Gujarat: India's first live heart transport by train completed on Vande Bharat from Surat to Ahmedabad
Ahmedabad/Surat, July 31 Indian Railways has completed what it described as the country's first transportation of a live heart by train, with the organ being carried from Surat to Ahmedabad aboard the Mumbai Central-Gandhinagar Capital Vande Bharat Express for a transplant at the U.N. Mehta Institute of Cardiology and Research Centre.
The heart, which was transported on Train No. 20901, reached Ahmedabad within the required time frame for transplantation.
The operation involved coordination between Indian Railways, the Gujarat Police, the Railway Protection Force (RPF) and medical teams to ensure the organ was delivered without delay.
After the train arrived at Ahmedabad railway station, a green corridor was established by the RPF and Gujarat Police from Platform No. 1 to the U.N. Mehta Institute of Cardiology and Research Centre.
The dedicated route allowed the heart to be moved swiftly to the hospital so that the transplant procedure could begin within the prescribed time.
Divisional Railway Manager (Ahmedabad) Ved Prakash said the operation marked a significant moment for Indian Railways.
"This is a moment of immense pride and satisfaction for Indian Railways that a live heart has been safely and timely transported from Surat to Ahmedabad through the Vande Bharat Express. Every moment is crucial in such lifesaving missions. The excellent coordination between Indian Railways, the RPF, Gujarat State Police and the medical teams made this mission successful. For us, playing a role in saving a person's life is not merely a responsibility, but the highest duty of service and humanity," he said.
According to the railway administration, the speed, punctuality and reliability of the Vande Bharat Express were key factors in allowing the organ to reach its destination within the limited viability window required for transplantation.
The mission also involved multiple departments of Indian Railways, along with doctors, organ transplant coordinators, RPF personnel, Gujarat State Police officers and other officials.
Authorities said close coordination among all participating agencies ensured the successful completion of the time-sensitive operation.
The transport marks the first reported instance in India of a live heart being moved by train for transplantation, expanding the role of the railway network in supporting emergency medical logistics alongside its passenger and freight services.
— IANS
Reader Comments
This is incredible! The coordination between railways, police, and medical teams is a testament to what we can achieve when everyone works together. Hope to see similar initiatives in other cities too. Jai Hind! 🇮🇳
Ekdum top class! The green corridor from platform to hospital is brilliant planning. But let's also remember that in many rural areas, we still lack proper ambulance services and basic healthcare infrastructure. This is a great start, but we need to think about how to make such emergency logistics accessible in smaller towns too, not just big cities.
This is what we call 'Sewa' - selfless service. Indian Railways has done us proud. My father had a heart transplant 10 years ago, and we had to rely on a private air ambulance. Seeing this now, I feel our country has truly progressed. God bless the patient and the entire team involved.
Just wondering - why not use a helicopter for such time-critical operations? I'm not doubting the success, but train delays are common, and a few minutes can make a huge difference in organ transplantation. Still, hats off to the teams for making it work! 👏
Great initiative! But let's also discuss organ donation awareness. Many families in our country are still hesitant to donate organs due to religious or cultural beliefs. This incident should also serve as a reminder that organ donation can save lives. Let's start conversations in our own families about this.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.